Chemical Sensitivity: The Truth about Environmental Illness

(...) To say the least the rabid anti-book reviews listed here show far more about the political agenda of the reviewers than about a carefully reasoned and substantiated study of what is yet another anti-scientific rather silly "scare" of those people who see an evil business conspiracy under every bed (who needs Commies there anymore?). Wild eyed unsubstantiated claims of chemical industry ties are simply embarassing. Read the book and learn. That would be a new trick for most of these reviewers.

This really is a great book. It deals with MCS from the perspective of what the objective scientific evidence is on the subject and so far the evidence points to sociogenic illness, that is people really do get sick from MCS but not from the chemicals they smell or think are present but from their belief that these things are supposed to make them sick. One study has show that people who thought they had sensitivity to minute quantities of certain chemicals only had reactions when they could smell them. When they were exposed to the same chemical with a masking scent they had no reaction. The authors do not say that chemicals don't make people sick. Indeed many chemicals, including natural ones, do cause illness but those chemicals generally cause specific symptoms and problems. The MCS community has a financial and emotional investment in the idea that most chemicals make people ill in a vague way causing a variety of symptoms. The MCS community already has their answers firmly planted in their minds with a religious zeal and they are not open to any possibilities that do not echo their current feelings. Note that the "reviews" of this book that are negative generally very emotional attacks on the authors and do not deal with the substance of this book. If you are really interested in what causes MCS and are actually open minded you will find this book to be a fascinating read. If on the other hand you already have a god-like knowledge of disease and have made up your mind then you will hate this book for daring to question ideas that you have already made up your mind on.

It's a bit sad to see so many of the other reviewers here postulating conspiracies. According to them, the authors are shills or agents of the chemical industry or what have you.I'm sorry, but this just isn't true.They are doctors and scientists. They examined the evidence, which they share with the reader. That evidence says these "syndromes" are not physiological in nature. Unfortunately, too many people, when they hear that, think it's an insult, like saying, "It's all in your head." Well, these scientists are not out to denigrate anybody, but just to get the proper science. If the people suffering from these "syndromes" really need psychological help, wouldn't it be much better for them to get that help and get better? It doesn't help them any to continue to insist -- against all evidence -- that there really is a physiological cause.

The authors do an excellent job of debunking the "Environmental Illness" myth that is being perpetuated by clinical ecologists. They show that these illnesses are not recognized by the scientific community at large. The authors do not have any ties to the chemical industry, they are merely speaking out for the people, and trying to get the message across that these "illnesses" should be looked at more carefully. They are trying to warn people of the fraud that is being foisted upon everyone by lawyers and physicians. READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!!